Who the hell is doing single pick/drop .50/mile cars?

COD is simply the normal method of payment with used cars it doesn't mean anything but that. hauling used cars is a lot different than dealing with freight. . You often deal directly with the dealership, it could be a Ford dealership or could be Buba's used car sales, but they don't have bonds as a freight broker has.. You can also end up picking up from a dealership and delivering right to the customer so there isn't always a "middle man" like in freight so getting paid COD is the way you make sure you get paid because you don't have the same recourse with a Ratecon and being able to file against a bond.

If it's a business I take checks, no problem but it's still a COD payment. If it's an individual it has to be cash or direct transfer of some sort like zelle, cash app ect.

Personally, I have very few companies I'll run loads for that aren't COD. If it's not one of the bigger brokers that I know pay, there is no way I'll do it if it's not COD. In fact, the 1 time I trusted a local dealer (Nissan dealer) who said I could drop off a truck overnight and they'd send me the check.. it took me over a month to get paid and I had to go to the dealership and collect..